Under the slogan "When the world is silent, we set sail," a humanitarian aid flotilla, led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg , is ready to set sail from Barcelona today. The organizers stated their goal was to "break the illegal blockade of Gaza."
The vessels will set sail from the Spanish port city to "open a humanitarian corridor and put an end to the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people," the Global Sumud Flotilla stated. The number of participating vessels or the exact departure time were not specified. The flotilla is expected to arrive in the war-torn coastal enclave in mid-September.
“This will be the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined,” said Brazilian activist Thiago Avila.
Organizers say dozens of more vessels are expected to leave ports in Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries on September 4.
Activists will also organize simultaneous demonstrations and other protests in 44 countries "in solidarity with the Palestinian people," Thunberg, a member of the flotilla's steering committee, wrote on Instagram. In addition to Thunberg, the flotilla will include activists from several countries, European parliamentarians, and public figures such as former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
"The question today is not why we are setting sail," Greta Thunberg said. "The issue is not at all about the mission we are about to undertake. The issue is about Palestine."
"The issue," she added at the Global Sumud Flotilla organizers' press conference, "is how people are deliberately deprived of the most basic means of subsistence and how the world can remain silent ." Israel, Thunberg said, is "very clear about its genocidal intent." " They want to erase the Palestinian nation, they want to take over the Gaza Strip. If that doesn't move people to action, if that doesn't move people to get off the couch and take action, to fill the streets, to organize, then I don't know what will."
